Inhalation Toxicology Research

The main human exposure route to air pollution is through inhalation. Since the early 1970s, epidemiological studies have shown a strong link between air pollution exposure and deaths or other serious health problems. In order to determine the effects of air pollution on people and to quantify exposure thresholds and risk due to air pollution, in vivo ('within the living') inhalation toxicology testing and studies are conducted. During these studies, controlled test aerosols (particles in air) are generated and fed into inhalation chambers where precisely quantified dosages are administered to test subjects, and specific biological responses versus dose rates are documented. The size and concentration of the chosen challenge aerosol has a large effect on the level of exposure (respiratory deposition rates) and the particular toxicological effects.

TSI aerosol generation instruments, like the Fluidized Bed 3400A and the Electrostatic Classifier 3082, are used to generate repeatable, controlled challenge aerosols with extremely narrow size distributions, if necessary for inhalation toxicology testing.

Precision aerosol sizing and counting instruments like the Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer™ (SMPS) Spectrometer 3938*, the Aerodynamic Particle Sizer 3321 and Condensation Particle Counters are used to accurately determine the doses given to the test subjects.

to find out more about how TSI aerosol generators, sizers and counters can help with specific inhalation toxicology experiments, contact one of TSI's application experts.